On Thursday, multi-billionaire Sam Zell died at the age of 81, know his net worth and cause of death
Sam Zell was a Chicago-based real estate mogul who earned the nickname “the grave dancer” for his skill at reviving abandoned properties. Know more about him and his family in the article below.
Sam Zell died, cause of death, obituary, net worth, bio, age, height, wife and family
The business tycoon, Sam Zell, invested in commercial real estate, energy manufacturing, transportation, logistics, healthcare, and communications. After his death, people were more interested in knowing about his wife and family.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Zell, and three children, Matthew Zellm HoAnn Zell, and Kellie Zell, along with son-in-law Scott Peppet along with nine grandchildren. His father was Bernard Zell, and his mother was Rochelle Zell.
The Chicago property czar had a net worth of $5.2 billion, according to Forbes with his height at 5 feet 5 inches. An outspoken businessman, Zell had a passion for motorcycles, which led him to form a group called Zell’s Angels with whom he would take motorcycle rides.
He was 81 when he died and his death was announced in a statement by Equity Group Investments, the firm that Mr. Zell founded and of which he had been chairman. The statement did not say where he died and attributed his death to “complications from an illness.”
Who is Sam Zell?
Shmuel Zielonka, or Samuel “Sam” Zell, was born in Chicago on September 27, 1941. Sam’s family relocated to Highland Park, Illinois, when he was twelve. Sam received a degree from Highland Park High School and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 1963. He belonged to the fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi while he was studying.
Sam Zell’s Father- Bernard Zell
On April 8th, 1905, a Jewish family in Poland gave birth to Bernard Zell. He was a successful trader in grains. He travelled from Japan to the US with his wife, Rochelle Zell, and his daughter. Sam was born four months later. Bernard moved the family to Chicago, where he worked as a wholesale jeweller.
Sam Zell’s Mother- Rochelle Zell
Rochelle Zell (née Jakubowicz), commonly known as Ruchla Zielonka, was born in New York on December 23, 1908. She was raised by Berek and Leah Jakubowicz. Rochelle married Bernard Zell and died on September 6, 2000.
Sam Zell’s Wife- Helen Zell
The Zell Family Foundation’s executive director, Helen Zell, is the wife of Sam. In addition to music, literature, and the visual arts, she is passionate about the arts and education. In these domains, she is a thought leader as well. Sam had two prior marriages to Helen.
Sam Zell’s Children- Michael Zell, Kellie Zell, and Joann Zell
Sam Zell was married three times and divorced twice. He has three children. He has a son named Matthew and a daughter named Kellie from his prior marriage. He also has an adopted daughter named Joann from his second marriage.
Net Worth Of Sam Zell
Sam Zell has a net worth of $5 billion. Zell ranked 324 on Forbes’ 2017 list of the world’s billionaires. Sam was ranked as the 117th wealthiest person on the 2016 Forbes 400 list of the world’s billionaires.
Sam sold 20% of his Equity Residential business to Barry Sternlicht’s Starwood Capital in October 2015 for a sum of $5.4 billion. Furthermore, Equity International, Sam’s private equity company, makes investments in emerging markets. In September 2016, it closed its first Asian fund with $205 million allocated towards warehouse investments in Japan.
1/10 RIP Sam Zell. A self-made billionaire, philanthropist, and business visionary, Zell's career is an emblem of tenacity, audacity, and innovation. 6 years ago I had the chance to meet Sam and was struck by how inspiring he was in so many ways #SamZell pic.twitter.com/DElQEG4ZR2
— Jason Shuman (@JasonrShuman) May 18, 2023
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